The plan depicts new riverside open spaces, a suggestion of more than 2,500 new homes, more retail, and new pedestrianised areas in order to improve a centre currently blighted by congestion.

Artistic impressions of proposals to redevelop Guildford in the draft town centre masterplan. 'Malthouse Green' at current Portsmouth Road car park.

Artistic impressions of proposals to redevelop Guildford in the draft town centre masterplan. Friary riverside.

Overall, the plan has been welcomed by GVG, but again the group noted the absence of a bridge connecting York Road to Guildford Park Road in the plan, which it has suggested in the past, with John Rigg, GVG chairman, saying the plan was not "brave enough" to provide the new crossing.

Holy Trinity Church was packed for a public meeting on the draft town centre masterplan

Invited to speak at the end of the meeting on Monday, borough council leader, Councillor Stephen Mansbridge, said that the GVG bridge proposal was "not out of the question", but was something which could occur at a later date.

Mr Rigg said that the plan would take the town nearer to emulating the experience of other towns and cities such as Bath, Cambridge, York and Oxford.